How much does a complete Paris → Panama City move cost?
Dedicated 20-ft container (28 m³, family of 3-4, full furniture): €8,500-12,000 door-to-door. Groupage 1-3 m³ (couple, no big furniture): €3,500-5,500. Plane-only excess baggage (Air France/KLM): €600-1,200 for 100-200 kg. Timelines: groupage 8-12 weeks, dedicated 6-10 weeks, plane 1-2 weeks.
PetAir, Pet Travel or IPATA — what works in Panama?
PetAir UK (Manchester-based) operates in Panama via local partner. Pet Travel (US, IPATA member) operates too. Both handle: paperwork (MIDA + AGRI/USDA + apostille), Air France/Lufthansa/Iberia cargo booking, IATA crate, airport transit, delivery to your Panama home. Medium dog 25 kg: €2,200-3,200 Paris → PA City all-in.
Do you clear customs at Manzanillo or Tocumen?
Every container from Europe arrives at Manzanillo (Caribbean coast, Panama's main entry port). Tocumen handles air cargo only. Customs clearance at Manzanillo takes 7-15 days depending on daily volume and file complexity. Your mover handles formalities. Count $600-1,500 import duty on personal effects (varies by age of goods, invoices, residency status).
Can you import your car to Panama?
Yes, but 3 conditions: (1) vehicle under 5 years old, (2) title + invoices in your name for 6 months min, (3) duty payment = 18% of CIF value (cargo-insurance-freight). For a €25,000 European car, count €4,500 duty + ~€2,500 sea freight. Globally, importing often costs more than buying locally.
What insurance level for belongings?
Always take the mover's "all-risks" insurance, not just basic liability. Surcharge: 2-4% of declared goods value. Without it, on damaged or lost container, you only recover €1-3/kg (postal-equivalent). With all-risks, declared value reimbursed in full.
